South Korean automaker KG Mobility Corporation (KGM) has launched a hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) version of its Torres SUV, marking the automaker’s entry into the fast-growing global hybrid vehicle segment for the first time.
The new Torres Hybrid is equipped with a 1.83 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery pack and a Dual-Tech Hybrid System, and a dedicated e-DHT transmission, providing a 41% fuel-efficiency improvement over the petrol model according to the automaker.
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The Dual-Tech Hybrid System supports three driving modes: battery electric vehicle (BEV), hybrid-electric drive and internal combustion (ICE) engine drive. It can travel up to 15.7 km on a litre of petrol in hybrid mode and 94 km in EV mode in urban areas on a full charge – driven by a 130 kW motor. Prices start at KRW31.4m (US$21,625) for the T5 variant, rising to KRW36.35m (US$25,040) for the T7 model.
Since it was acquired by South Korea’s KG Group in late 2022, KGM – previously known as Ssangyong Motor – has been busy expanding into new segments of the vehicle market, particularly with the adoption of more environmentally friendly technologies. The automaker launched the Torres EVX, a battery-powered version of the Torres, last year and launched the Musso EV pickup truck earlier this month.
Last year, KGM also signed a strategic partnership with China’s Chery Automobile Company, involving platform licensing and product sharing aimed at helping it strengthen its SUV line-up. The deal also gives KGM access to readily available new energy vehicle (NEV) technologies, including vehicle platforms.
A KG Mobility spokesperson confirmed the company “aims to lead the popularization of hybrid vehicles by introducing various HEV models.”
